Connors steps down as Saugus hockey coach

After five seasons at the helm of the Saugus high hockey program, head coach Chris Connors stepped down earlier this week, citing work and family commitments.”As an administration, we wish coach Connors the best of luck in the future,” Saugus athletic director Mike Nelson said.Connors came to Saugus five years ago after a long stint as an assistant coach under Mark Lee at St. Mary’s.He took over a program that was coming off three consecutive appearances in the Division 2 state championship game under coach Jim Quinlan, winning twice and losing the third in overtime to Boston Latin in 2005.Things didn’t start well for Connors in Saugus during his first two seasons as the team missed out on playing in the state tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.The growing pains paid big dividends in 2008 as the Sachems pushed their way back into the postseason picture.Led by a core of veterans like Mike Scuzzarella and Joe Vecchione, the Sachems finished the season 9-7-3 and gave Cape Ann League power Newburyport a battle for two periods of a 5-1 first round loss in Stoneham.Building off the success of the 2007-08 campaign, Saugus turned to a youth movement to keep the momentum. Despite having a roster that had a plethora of freshmen and sophomores, the Sachems again picked up nine victories to clinch a tournament spot.Once again the Sachems gave a Cape Ann League power fits as they battled with Wilmington for all 45 minutes, dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Wildcats.This season was set up to be a very good one for the Sachems and they started well with points in two of their first three games. Things went downhill when when five players were suspended for five games following a violation of school rules after being caught drinking at a party.Saugus would lose the next six games in a row to fall to 1-7-1 and seemingly doom their state tournament hopes. But the Sachems showed moxie and played their way back into tourney contention before finishing with a 7-11-2 record.”Coach Connors was highly involved with his players, making sure they excelled in the classroom and on the ice,” Nelson said.Connors said he decided to step down because he felt with changes in his personal life (he got a promotion at work in January and is planning to get married) he wouldn’t be able to give the program 100 percent.Connors is an account manager for a display and fixture company out of Salem. His promotion means he’ll now be handling the midwest territory.”I felt that next year, with my job promotion, I couldn’t give Saugus hockey 100 percent,” he said.Connors played hockey at Saugus High under former coaches Chris Serino and Scott Brazis. He graduated in 1990. In addition to serving as an assistant coach at St. Mary’s, he was also an assisant under former Saugus High coaches Jim Quinlan and Lou Finocchiaro.”I have no regrets. I’ve had the opportunity to coach a great group of student athletes in Saugus. I’m very grateful to the administration,” he said.The Sachems will return the bulk of their starters from this year’s team, including goalie Nick Hegarty and five scorers who had double figures in points.”(Chris) did a remarkable job in heading the Sachems over the past five years,” Nelson said.